Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Vikings have not had to worry about their kicking position since signing Ryan Longwell as a free agent before the 2006 season. The 35-year-old Longwell has been extremely consistent and last season made 26 of 28 field-goal attempts and 54 of 55 extra-point tries.
All of this would lead one to expect the Vikings will pay Longwell the $500,000 bonus they owe him on March 7. Making that payment will enable the Vikings to retain him for the 2010 season. So is that the plan?
Rick Spielman, the Vikings vice president of player personnel, declined to say when asked about the subject today. Spielman simply said he wasn't about to discuss a player's contract, which is pretty much standard procedure. Look for Longwell to be back in Purple for another season.
A couple of other notes from Spielman's comments to Twin Cities reporters today:
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